Drones to deliver medicines in South Kerala! Skye Air Mobility from Delhi joins hands with CARiTAS Hospital in Kottayam to facilitate fast and pollution-free transit of healthcare supplies and test samples.
Skye Air Mobility, a Delhi-based drone delivery startup, announced a collaboration with CARiTAS Hospital & Institute of Health Sciences in Kottayam, Kerala, last week. The venture, ‘Caritas Drone Medical Supply Delivery Unit’ aims to employ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for transporting crucial medical supplies and diagnostic samples in the region.
The company has claimed this will facilitate healthcare access and efficiency in South Kerala. The new system will deploy drones capable of carrying up to 3 kilograms over distances ranging from 10 to 15 kilometres. This network will link CARiTAS Hospital with its subsidiary healthcare facilities and remote areas as well.
Additionally, the delivery service is projected to cut delivery times from several hours to 5-7 minutes and decrease carbon emissions by reducing reliance on road transport.
Although no financial information about the venture has been disclosed yet, Skye Air has stated that the initiative will begin a series of trial runs in the upcoming weeks, with intentions for a comprehensive rollout throughout the Kottayam district soon after.
Both CARiTAS Hospital and Skye Air Mobility are collaborating with local authorities to ensure safe and efficient operation of the service, as well as compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines.
The launch event on Friday witnessed a successful flight of the drone carrying medicines. Rev Dr Binu Kunnath, Director of CARiTAS Hospital, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Whether it is delivering medicine, transporting lab samples, or providing medical equipment, these drones will improve care in our community.”
The local MLA, Mr Mons Joseph, commended the initiative as “lifesaving”, saying, ” This initiative fits well with our government’s goal of enhancing public services with technology.”
Furthermore, Ankit Kumar, CEO and Founder of Skye Air Mobility claimed, “By establishing an aerial supply chain, we are not only reducing delivery times but also minimising costs and environmental impact. This initiative serves as a model for future healthcare logistics solutions across India.”
Founded in 2020, Skye Air offers drones for the delivery of retail and e-commerce products, postal services, and food products. Besides healthcare, it also provides last-mile drone delivery services for defence, agri-commodity and essential supplies.
